Which degree gives you the most skills? Another bachelor's degree or another masters degree?

[Bethany22]

Do you actually learn any skills in a masters degree? Or is it better to get another bachelor's degree?

Updates

+1 y

Is another 4 year bachelor's degree worth missing years of work experience?

[WindAtMyBack]

It depends on the profession. I worked in engineering for a few decades. The number of engineers with advanced degrees is increasing, but it's not really needed. Personally I think they're better off working for a couple of years rather than continuing with college.

Like most professions, your real education starts when you start working. Working is real world education, not a bunch of theory. Someone fresh out of college doesn't really know what they're doing. They need to start learning at work. Hopefully their employer starts them with easy projects. Getting an advanced degree doesn't change this.

A masters degree will give someone more specialized knowledge. But so will working. The knowledge you gain by working is knowledge that you actually use. The knowledge that you gain with an advanced degree may or may not be useful.

There is no amount of education that can substitute for on-the-job learning. After someone has several years of experience, their education no longer even matters, not even a bachelor's degree matters.

This has all been about what you actually need and use on the job. It's common for managers who hire people to have a different attitude about it. Quite frankly, a lot of managers don't know what they need. A lot of them are bureaucrats with no experience in the field they are managing.

Also, companies like to brag about how many employees they have with advanced degrees. Sometimes this is nothing but PR. Other times if really makes a difference, such as bidding on government contracts. If the manager or higher ups think they want advanced degrees, then that's what they want whether they actually need it or not.

On the other hand, advanced degrees can backfire. Companies assume that you want more money. If they don't actually want the advanced degree, then they might automatically pass over a job applicant with an advanced degree. PhDs are far worse in this respect. It severely narrows job opportunities, which also means it severely narrows where you can live. It also makes it very difficult to change directions, which is very common in the modern dynamic world.

Science is an exception to most of this. In many sciences, you really need an advanced degree to get anywhere. But even in science, a PhD can backfire. I've known several people with PhDs who regretted getting them.

[Charlesbrandonf]

@Bethany22 😍 I could be completely miss anything. But here is what I feel from my understanding.


This is just my case, not be for everyone.
I have two masters Degrees both in computer science. The other day I was asking what job requires certain degree. Because i live in Silicon Valley. Market is always so busy and so many vacancies all the way to San Francisco. And everyone ask for experience, I wish I have more experience than degrees. At least among my friend and in my experience, people who don’t have degree but more years of experience gets paid more than us. I’ve given 348 interviews till date. I found it initially hard to find a job after I graduated, because every company wants some basic experience.


I have two masters degrees, 6 years of experience gets paid “x”, and people who have 10 years of experience and no bachelors degree gets paid 2x, 3x times of what we get paid.


I think None of whales ( Big shots) who made ridiculous money don’t have high degrees. They dropped out and started investing and invented something.


I feel I should have gotten more experience than degrees. I might be wrong. I wish I get paid more. 🙂

[jennifer_bloom]

The most dangerous degree is pre met cause if you get rejected by medical school, you might have to work as a cashier. I know one girl who went to community college for creative writing after medical schools rejected her.

[cryscrys1]

OMG never do 2 Bachelor degree ever
Always move on into MS or certifications that qualify you for demanding jobs

[Chazmatazz269]

Degrees don’t provide or reflect skills. Just the opposite, actually. Degrees are about status. You’re signaling to the powers that be that you are invested in the system. Most people and organizations in charge of hiring and recruiting will tell you any degree will do. This is also reflected in the fact that less than half of college graduates work in a field related to their degree or studies. Some estimates suggest only a quarter do, and about a third hold positions that don’t require a degree at all. Ell oh ell!

[The_Shadow_Dweller]

I can only say about mine.

I am a 4th year engineering student. And I am preparing for MBA.

If I remain an engineer throughout, I may be limited to technical departments in a company, only. But I do MBA, I will be open to many other opportunities like administrative work, etc. Basically not limited to the technical department.

That is how I think it is. Official doors open to different fields in your career.

[exitseven]

A Masters Degree really just gives you a more advanced knowledge of the subject matter. It is usually ten courses and can be completed in two of three years. A second Bachelors degree will give you a completely different background in a different subject. I really do not know what your objective is so it is hard to make a determination.

[Summeroflove]

This depends on what you’re wanting. If you’re wanting more specialized training and education in the field you got your bachelors degree in then go for the masters.

If you’re wanting another subject all together. Then get another bachelors. Maybe there is a counselor or someone at the university or college that you can speak to about this issue.

[Summeroflove]

I don’t know. This depends on your job.

[Summeroflove]

Speak to someone at the college.

[Summeroflove]

But if you’re asking work experience or college. Remember they want your money. So they will try to convince you to come back.

As far as your degree program. They can help you. But consult with someone in your careers field

[jshm2]

Depends as not all degrees are equal.

No I don't mean shitty ivy league or local uni. I mean the work and placement is usually more valuable than the uni work.

Hence what extra work in the related field you do, is more likely to teach you the right skills.

In computer science, for example, certifications are all our company look for. We don't care about degrees of any level unless you can pull some serious skills - none to date have.

[Pudsmucker]

Master degrees will give you a better Outlook. Will teach you right efficiently especially on your research. Some master programs you can work and study at home in the evening. My daughter got her Masters while she taught in school. It gave her the ability and skills that she needed to help teach children and work with the parents.

[Fireguy17]

Get a technical degree.
You can walk out making 6 figures a year.
Many will even train you.
No debt.
So you will be way ahead of others.

[NerdInDenial]

My Master’s Degree is different from my Bachelor’s Degree. I learned new skills.

[NerdInDenial]

You should get a master’s degree but it won’t take you 4 years to get another bachelor’s. Many classes that you have taken in your first bachelor’s will be credited.

[slatyb]

What do you want to do? Some master's degrees are basically retraining for people who have bachelor's degrees but want to enter a different field.

[AviatorTom]

Another Bachelors expands your knowledge into other areas, while Masters gives you more details of the same area.

[AviatorTom]

Re your update. Missing 4 years of work would not be good, and it's unnecessary. You can get another bachelors degree by going to school at night or online while still working. Not easy but doable.

[melanieeeB]

You get skills through job experiences, over the years, but a degree gets you the higher paid Jobs

[Anonymous]

Unless you plan on being a doctor or lawyer or some sort of engineer or architect don't even bother wasting your time going to college or a university

[Smartman5]

I think getting a new bachelor's degree is more beneficial because a master's is already an advanced level of the bachelor's. Learning something new is unlikely

[Anonymous]

A master's is the same thing as getting a second bachelor's. You already did the prerequisites for the first degree. You will need two years for your second four-year degree.

[Jamie05rhs]

Another bachelor's degree expands your repertoire. A master's degree gives you a higher position on the totem pole.

[pizzalovershouse]

Depends which job you choose if your going to beed one or the other

[Asker2022]

degrees are useless, I think skill programs are more useful.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

You don't need such degree to learn a skill. For practical skills go to a technical school.

[Anonymous]

skills are a trade... welding... automechanic... those are degrees... book smarts

[Danny_dan92]

A degree in medicine.

[Kelly6]

Masters degree

[ZenJen444]

Depends in the major. What are you majoring in?

[In_Trance]

I don't think either of them will

[Anonymous]

Masters, go for the gusto.!

[Anonymous]

Bachelor's degree in math. Masters in science.